Category Archives: The Technique of Okinawa Karate and Kobudo

Sanchin, and the “Framework of 14 Kata”

Posted on April 25, 2024 by Andreas Quast

I met Tōme San in 2012 at a larger martial arts demonstration meet held at the Prefectural Budōkan in Naha. I had met him before at the dōjō of Senaga Yoshitsune Sensei of Uechi-ryū. At the time of the martial … Continue reading →

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A characteristic combination in old-style Sakugawa no Kon

Posted on April 11, 2024 by Andreas Quast

In the late 1920s, Miki Jisaburō of the Karate Club of Tokyo Imperial University travelled to Okinawa to meet the then-current masters and to research and record the techniques of original karate and kobudō. He published his findings in an … Continue reading →

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The 1921 Martial Arts Performance for Crown Prince Hirohito at Shuri Castle, and Kakazu Bo

Posted on March 21, 2024 by Andreas Quast

On March 6, 1921, during Crown Prince Hirohito’s visit to Europe, the escort battleships Katori, captained by Okinawa-born Captain Kanna Kenwa, temporarily anchored in Nakagusuku Bay, and Crown Prince Hirohito took a light railway to Yonabaru. From there, he took … Continue reading →

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NEW RELEASE: Bo – Techniques, Forms, and Partner Practices of Ancient Okinawan Fighting Traditions. Volume 1: Bo-odori.

Posted on February 20, 2024 by Andreas Quast

Softcover edition: US | UK | DE | FR | ES | IT | NL | JP | AU | BR | CA | MX | SE | IN | PL Bo Techniques, Forms, and Partner Practices of Ancient Okinawan … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Reviews, kobudo, kumibo, Performing Arts, Postwar Okinawa Karate, Prewar Okinawa Karate, Publications, Terminology, The Technique of Okinawa Karate and Kobudo, Theories of Historical Karate in Comparative Perspective, Tsuken | Comments Off on NEW RELEASE: Bo – Techniques, Forms, and Partner Practices of Ancient Okinawan Fighting Traditions. Volume 1: Bo-odori.

Ancient Martial Arts of the Ryukyu Islands – Mekata-bo

Posted on January 7, 2024 by Andreas Quast

The video at the end is a remake taken from an Okinawan Mēkata-bō. In particular, this Mēkata-bō was designated an Intangible Folk Cultural Asset on June 27, 1990. Mēkata-bō is the opening dance for purification on stage or at festivals, … Continue reading →

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The creation of sai choreographies – Hints on example of Yāka no Sai

Posted on December 10, 2023 by Andreas Quast

I have previously noted about Yakā no Sai, explaining the meaning of the word yāka and so forth. In the meantime, I stumbled upon the oldest reference I could find so far explaining the meaning of yāka (guardian) as a … Continue reading →

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Is Zakimi bōjutsu the original Tsuken-bō?

Posted on December 9, 2023 by Andreas Quast

In a similar line of thought as in the previous article, I continue the search for hints to the spread and characteristics of Tsuken-bō. This time it is about Zakimi bōjutsu, sometimes simply called Zakimi-bō as handed down in Zakimi … Continue reading →

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Is Namihira-bō the original Tsuken-bō?

Posted on December 9, 2023 by Andreas Quast

As part of my ongoing research into village staff fencing (mura-bō), I stumbled upon this this performance, which took place in Hawaii. I posted about it on Facebook in January 2104. Back then, the following information came to light. It is … Continue reading →

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Tsuken Sunakake and Tsuken Akan’chū

Posted on December 9, 2023 by Andreas Quast

I published a number of articles related to the tradition of Tsuken before. Here is another piece I once copied in a Okinawan dōjō. The text is as follows. Tsuken Sunakake It is said that Master Tsuken was defeated during … Continue reading →

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Reasonable expectations

Posted on December 5, 2023 by Andreas Quast

Previously, I wrote about “The Four Outer Forms of Postures Discovered by Matsumura” as described and taught by the late Kinjō Hiroshi sensei. These Four Outer Forms are the result of Kinjō’s inductive reasoning and empirical argumentation. Obviously, in Okinawa … Continue reading →

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